Join Us This Year – October 5, 2013
or online all year at EnergySage.com
Welcome to the biggest green energy event in the Northeast
Above photo courtesy South Mountain Company, 2012 entrant for the Zero Net Energy Building Award
NESEA, its Zero Net Energy Award, and GBOH have completely changed my priorities and expectations for a house. Now, it’s not ‘high design’ if it’s not zero net energy.” —Laura MacKay, GBOH attendee
NESEA’s Green Buildings Open House (GBOH), held annually in October, is the biggest sustainable energy event in the northeastern United States. In 2011, nearly 11,000 people toured 500 homes, businesses, and public buildings showcasing energy-efficient design, systems, and products, as well as renewables. It should be no surprise that NESEA members are often behind the designs, upgrades, and products seen on the tour.
There’s nothing like seeing for yourself
Launched in 1995, GBOH lets people see firsthand the energy improvements in their communities. They can talk directly with home owners, business owners, and facilities managers. They can experience a house so efficient that it needs no heating system, smell for themselves that a composting toilet doesn’t, or see cogeneration in action. New in 2012, we are offering tours for building/energy professionals – check out our pro tours!
GBOH is our best marketing opportunity of the year.” —Jesse Thompson, Kaplan Thompson Architects
It’s a fact: GBOH inspires people to invest in efficiency
People leave the GBOH tour more informed—and more committed to making improvements to their own buildings. According to a survey we conducted in the fall of 2012:
- 95% of respondents felt the tour met their goals of learning more about sustainable building & renewable energy, finding contractors or architects and getting inspired.
- 83% of respondents who indicated they’d previously been on the GBOH tour had since taken energy efficient actions or installed high performance systems on their home or building.
- 62% said that attending the GBOH tour influenced their decision to adopt energy efficient or renewable energy systems.
GBOH is a great way to connect those people with professionals and manufacturers who offer the services and products needed to make buildings, whether old or new, capable of deep energy reductions and on-site generation of clean power.
Who Participates in GBOH and why?
- Home owners and building managers, education and inspiration
- Green professionals, new clients
- Sponsors, a chance to reach motivated consumers
The key to the tour: our huge database
NESEA’s database of host sites can be searched by geographic area, so people can find the sites nearest them, and by green building features, so they can focus on what interests them the most. As host sites register, we post photos and detailed information and on the buildings’ energy features, providing an ongoing educational tool. Search the database.
Plan Your Tour
Highlights for 2012
Be a part of our first ever offering of
Pro Tours! Learn more/RSVP here.
Our New York chapters are doing great things on the tour. Visit GreenHomeNYC & WNYSEA to learn more.
GBOH operates in conjunction with the American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Tour and helps to kick off National Energy Action Month.
